Electric igniter for explosive-engines.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

' A. L. BIKER.

ELEGTRIO IGNITER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN, 8, 1900'.

R0 KODEL.

urmms FEYERS co; PHOTO-K ran WASHINGYON a r UNITED STATES Patented July 91, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREXV L. RIKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW

JERSEY, AND HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR EXPLOSlVE-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,138, dated July 21, 1903.

Application filed January 8, 1900. Serial No. 759. (No model.)

To all whom, it 'III/U/y concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. RIKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Electric Igniter for Explosive-Engines, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to electric-spark igniters for explosive-engines; and it consists, essentially, of a vibratory interrupter that comprises a fixed terminal and a movable terminal constructed and mounted to vibrate freely back and forth and a cam or other device operated by the engine for plucking the movable member.

The invention consists, further, in providingfor adjustment of the sparking period relatively in the cycle of the engine.

It is essential in explosive-engines that a spark be produced without fail when needed, and to this end the making and the breaking of contacts in the electric circuit should each be as instantaneous as possible, which I accomplish by producing both the makes and the breaks by spring action. To insure the desired result without fail, this same spring action produces a series of instantaneous and immediately'successive (spring action) makes and breaks. Further, my device is arranged to be operated when the engine-shaft is rotated in either direction, forward or backward, and, finally, the various parts are mounted on a radially-adjustable plate to permit the adjustment of the sparking period relatively in the cycle of the engine.

The drawing annexed hereto as part of this application is a diagrammatic view showing my invention.

On a shaft A, driven by the engine, is a rounded crank arm or projection A, constituting a convex cam-surface. B is a plate mounted on this shaft and radially adjustable thereon, as by mechanism B, similar to a brake-lever and rack. On this plate, as at C, is mounted a properly-insulated springarm D, so arranged that it can vibrate freely back and forth or is, as must be seen, normally inert, at least to such extent and for the purpose as herein indicated. At its lower end is a head cl, which the cam A acts upon to pluck the spring-arm. This arm D is preferably so arranged that shaft A lies in the line of its prolongation, so that whether the engine rotates this shaft to the right or to the left in either case cam A serves to pluck the head d and throw the arm into vibrations. At one side on plate B is a lug E, in which is mounted a properly-insulated set-screw F, whose end f (preferably of platinum) constitutes the relativelyfixed terminal or contact-point of the main circuit. On springarm D, opposite screw F, is a block (1, (also platinum by preference,) that constitutes the relatively movable terminal or contact-point of the main circuit. This main circuit embraces a battery G, a condenser G connected therewith, and a transformer H. The ends of the wire composing the circuit are connected to terminals (1 and f, respectively, so that the circuit is closed only when the terminals are in contact. A secondary circuit from transformer H has the sparking-terminals I properly located in an explosion-chamher.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As the shaft rotates, which may be in either direction, the cam moves the end of springarm D until the later can escape, when its spring action throws it back, setting it into true to-and-fro vibrations. Terminal (1 is brought into instantaneous contact with terminalfandisasinstantaneously drawn away, and this is repeated a number of times. This rapid vibration of the spring-arm produces a rapid succession or series of quick sharp blows and a consequent series of instantaneous and immediatelysuccessive interruptions or makes and breaks in the main circuit, thereby producing an unfailing spark or series of sparks in the secondary circuit at I. Itwill be noted in addition to producing a series of interruptions that both the making and the breaking of the contact between the terminals in the interrupter are produced by spring actionthat is, they are quicker and more instantaneous than if produced by the comparatively slow mechanical moving or lifting of one terminal against or away from the 0therand, further, that my interrupter can be operated regardless of the direction in which the engine-shaft is rotated. In case it be desired to have the sparking take place at a different period in the cycle of the engine, proper manipulation of lever B shifts the plate B and the operative parts carried thereby, so that the cam A will act on head 61 either a little sooner or a little later than before. This may be done While the engine is running.

I do notlimit myself to the arrangement of parts indicated or to the exact construction disclosed. The spirit of my invention lies in the employment of a freely-vibrated terminal as one member of the interrupter of the main circuit and in thereby producing a succession of vibrations and of spring-action makes and breaks for each time the movable terminal is plucked.

claim- In combination in an igniter for explosiveengines, an electric circuit, an interrupter comprising a fixed terminal, a freely-vibrating spring-arm carrying the movable terminala cam rotated in unison with the engine, said cam located in the line of prolongation of said spring-arm when in its normal positiontand having similar opposed faces Whereby said spring-arm will be plucked out ofrits normal position by'a rotation of said cam in either direction, said fixed contact and springarm being mounted on amember angularly adjustable around the cam-center, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

Inf; testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

V I ANDREW L. BIKER.

\Vitnesses:

ELISHA K. CAMP,

O. A. L. MAssIE. 

